Football fans oppose Seoul Stadium’s K-pop acts

The K-pop Super Live Concert at Seoul World Cup Stadium on August 11, 2023.

From Madison Square Garden in New York to Wembley Stadium in London, the largest sports arenas and stadiums in major cities often double as concert venues.

But holding concerts at the Seoul World Cup Stadium is being challenged by some football fans who complain that non-sporting events there have crucial adverse effects on the pitch.

A self-proclaimed fan of footballer Son Heung-min posted a petition on the state website e-People on September 11, calling for the cancellation of K-pop superstar IU’s concert scheduled for September 21-22 during the World Cup in Seoul. Stadium.

The petitioner claimed that the large crowd expected for the concert – which sold out 100,000 tickets within minutes – will damage the grass of the stadium that will be used for the qualifying matches of the upcoming 2026 FIFA World Cup.

After playing Palestine at home on September 5, South Korea will host the rest of their Group B opponents in the qualifiers scheduled until next year. But there have been several complaints from players, fans and even opponents about the poor conditions on the grass.

“A third round qualifying match between South Korea and Iraq is scheduled to take place at Sangam (also known as the Seoul World Cup Stadium) on October 15, and (the authorities) must do their best to manage the grass there for the rest of (the World Cup qualifying period),” the petitioner wrote.

The person cited the Seoul Metropolitan Government Ordinance on the Installation and Operation of Metropolitan Sports Facilities, which states in Article 5-3 that the mayor may prohibit or even cancel the use of a sports facility if an event is deemed to potentially hinder the sports facilities. the management of the facility in question.

Greener grass

The controversy began when South Korean team captain Son Heung-min – who led his players’ 3-1 win over Oman with a second-half lead – complained about the grass at Seoul’s World Cup stadium. He said the Sultan Qaboos Sports Complex pitch was in good condition and allowed him to play with more confidence, adding that he wished such good management could also be applied to South Korea’s home pitches .

After his team finished in a goalless draw against Palestine in Seoul, he claimed the grass had made it difficult to control the ball.

The supposedly questionable grass conditions at the Seoul World Cup Stadium have been a problem for a long time. Former South Korea team player Ki Sung-yueng jokingly said in 2017 that he was not worried about a road race in China because the grass there “couldn’t possibly be worse than in Seoul”.

In light of grass concerns, Seoul Facilities Corporation installed new turf in October 2021 that consists of 95 percent natural and 5 percent artificial grass. Since then, fewer events have been held at the stadium than before, with the venue being concert-free for a full year since the installation of the new pitch.

But between the ongoing renovation of the Seoul Olympic Stadium in Jamsil, southern Seoul, and the occupancy of the Gocheok Sky Dome for the professional baseball league season, the Seoul World Cup Stadium has become virtually the only venue in Seoul to host mega-sized concerts held. The concerts of band Seventeen and singer Lim Young-woong took place at the stadium each April and May this year, prior to the recent concert.

Operators of the Seoul World Cup Stadium told local media that warnings about the grass are passed on to whoever rents the stadium, and that those who rent it are mandated to repair any damage to the pitch. Access to grass is also limited to the minimum number of staff required to install the stage and run the events, she added.

The artists themselves also do their best to minimize damage to the grass, such as Lim who does not install chairs on the field. The IU organization also promised to follow the policy by protecting the grass, disassembling the stage once the concert ends, while keeping the grass hydrated and well ventilated throughout the event.